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Blob Rock Area

Submitted By: Ron Olsen on Mar 29, 2006
Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac
Latitude: 40.0025  Longitude: -105.3878 
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Blob Rock open for climbing MORE INFO >>>

BETA PHOTO: Blob Rock Area.

Original photo by Jack Wyatt.



Description 

The Blob Rock Area has some of the finest climbing in Boulder Canyon. Located on the sunny north side of the canyon, it's a great place to climb in cooler weather. There is something for all climbers: multi-pitch trad climbs, runout face climbs, and modern sport routes.

Many of the older routes are a bit runout; they were established at a time when bolting wasn't a popular option for dealing with scary climbing. Most of the modern routes, however, have bolts where necessary to protect difficult moves.

This area is often closed for raptor nesting from February 1 through July 31. However, in 2006 the climbing ban was lifted early, and the area was reopened to climbing in early March. Signs are posted at the trailhead informing climbers of the current status of the raptor closure.

The area is composed of several formations: the main rocks are Blob Rock and East Blob; two smaller rocks are Little Blob and Small Package Block.

Blob Rock is a large and complex formation with many routes. It is the home of multi-pitch trad routes like Where Eagles Dare (10b PG-13) and On Ballet (9), bolts-plus-gear testpieces like Radlands of Infinity (13a) and Bearcat Goes to Hollywood (11d), and modern sport routes like Bolt Cola (10a) and Vasodilator (13a).

East Blob has some old, runout face climbs like A Hike With Ludwig Dude (10a R), and some well-bolted sport routes like The Young and the Rackless (9), A Hike for Y2K (11d), and The Ticket (12a).

Little Blob is a small rock below the main face of Blob Rock, and has a few more difficult sport routes like Lost and Found (12a).

Small Package Block is a small rock up and left of Blob Rock, and has a few short trad and sport routes. Wake 'n Bake (10a, sport) is a lot of fun.


Getting There 

Park in a small pullout on the right, just past Cob Rock. This is about 6.7 miles up the canyon.

A trail begins from the right side of the pullout. Follow it as it zig-zags up the hill. It will take you to the base of the Main Wall of Blob Rock in about 10 or 15 minutes.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Blob Rock Area:
The Young and the Rackless   5.9     Sport, 4 pitches, 300 feet   East Blob : Upper East Face
On Ballet   5.9     Trad, 3 pitches   Blob Rock : Main Wall
A Hike With Ludwig Dude   5.10a PG13     Trad, TR, 1 pitch   East Blob : Blob Slab
October Surprise   5.10b     Trad, 2 pitches, 170 feet   Blob Rock : Main Wall
Where Eagles Dare   5.10b     Trad, 3 pitches   Blob Rock : Main Wall
Wild Cat   5.11a     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Blob Rock : Dike Wall
Conan   5.11c/d     Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Blob Rock : Upper East Face
Respite   5.11d     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Blob Rock : Right Gully
Erki Nool (WGA)   5.11d     Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   Blob Rock : Upper East Face
Bearcat Goes to Hollywood   5.11d     Sport, 2 pitches, 100 feet   Blob Rock : Dike Wall
Orange Crush   5.11d     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Blob Rock : Right Gully
The Ticket   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch   East Blob : Upper East Face
Jolt Cola   5.12-     Sport, 1 pitch   Blob Rock : Right Gully
Vasodilator   5.13a     Sport, 1 pitch   Blob Rock : Right Gully
Browse More Classics in Blob Rock Area

Featured Route For Blob Rock Area
Greg's on the crux at the second to last bolt. The route climbs right to the left edge of the quartz dike at the bottom of the photo and then moves left on big humps between the 2nd and 3rd visible bolts. At the bolt with the long sling it moves back right past another closely spaced bolt to the quartz band and up that to the anchors.

Bearcat Goes to Hollywood 5.11d  CO : Boulder Canyon : ... : Dike Wall
Sustained slab climbing. Ascends a prominent slab which starts about 50' off the deck on the left side of Blob Rock. This slab is obvious in the Blob Rock perspective photo.There are several options for pitch 1: the first pitch of BGTH, 5.9 trad 40'; The first pitch of Wildcat, soft 11a sport with 5 bolts; Divine Wind 11b trad with an easy 5th class connector pitch.Pitch two involves sustained, intr...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO


Comments on Blob Rock Area Add Comment
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By Ron Olsen
From: Boulder, CO
May 23, 2009

Condition report
As of 5/23/09, the raptor closure on Blob Rock has been lifted, and the area is now open to climbing. The eagles did not nest there this year, and the Forest Service lifted the closure early.

By John Rudolph
Oct 21, 2009

Has anyone climbed the route under the giant roof between Dike Wall and West Butress? The one route that goes under the roof is called "Bad Girls Dream" and according to the new guide book, it's a 10a. It's the only 5.10 in the canyon I have not been able to climb. (Had to downclimb it, not easy in a horizontal roof.) Does anyone know if the 10a rating in the new GB is an error, or have any general info about this line?

By Mark Roth
From: Boulder
Nov 6, 2009

Bad Girls Dream, 12d in Rolofson's guide.